SOME of Americaâs most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.

Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.

âThere are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,â a source with close ties to British intelligence said. âThere is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.â

A British defence source confirmed that there were deep misgivings inside the Pentagon about a military strike. âAll the generals are perfectly clear that they donât have the military capacity to take Iran on in any meaningful fashion. Nobody wants to do it and it would be a matter of conscience for them.

If this is true (and I'm waiting for confirmation) then it sounds as if the planning process at the Pentagon is in full swing. It would be interesting to see what level these generals are at and what positions they currently hold.

Well Dubya has a world view, I think it ultimately derives from Daddy being a Company man. Its not that he doesn't have common sense, to be honest he knows what cost it will have, its rather he's prepared for a lot bigger loss than currently suffered to secure said worldview, especially when it comes to a small slither of land and current inhabitants in the Eastern Med.. They are, in their minds, far too far down the wrong fork of a Y junction to backtrack (i.e. their bed is made). Their best bet, in their mind, is to push on to cul de sac, and force a way through....

Agreed. However, if the article is true the Pentagon has no commanders just staff officers. If a half dozen staff officers resigned there would be no impact on operations. Also there is a difference between retirement and resignation. By resigning they would give up their pension which isnt a likely prospect.

SOME of Americaâs most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.

Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.

âThere are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,â a source with close ties to British intelligence said. âThere is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.â

A British defence source confirmed that there were deep misgivings inside the Pentagon about a military strike. âAll the generals are perfectly clear that they donât have the military capacity to take Iran on in any meaningful fashion. Nobody wants to do it and it would be a matter of conscience for them.

I really don't understand the logic that George Bush is applying to the Iran situation. I understand that he believes that Iran is supporting attacks on american forces in Iraq. So he understands that Iraq is being destabalised by some Iranian insurgents-or so he says.

So his cunning plan is to launch an attack on Iran.

Yet if Iran is attacked then the rise of Iranian insurgent attacks in Iraq will increase tenfold-does he realise this. His generals may be threatening to quit because if the attack goes ahead and the situation in Iraq becomes even more dangerous for American soldiers then it will be they-the American generals who will have to plan on how to deal with the massive increase in attacks.

Surely an attack on Iran will recruit many, many, more insurgents. So all the present work at bringing stability to Iraq will fly out the window the moment the air strikes on Iran begin. looking at the bigger picture- would any reasonable 'tyrant' launch a nuclear weapon knowing that as soon as he does his own nation will cease to be.

Gen Pace has gone on record saying that it would be a bad idea to strike Iran

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The last revolt of flag officers was by the Navy in 1949 over defense unification. Usually if someone no longer wants to serve they retire. If the President decides that Iran's nuclear facilities need to be attacked then it will happen. Only after the fact would you see retirements. No one that I know would favor an invasion of Iran but few have any qualms about an air campaign. There may be doubts about the ability of airpower to get all of Iran's dispersed facilities but there are no doubts about being able to at least delay their program. Any air campaign as I have posted before will involve striking Iran's high value targets - nuclear facilities,IRG, air bases, naval bases and ballistic missiles. There are alot of targets but the mission format would resemble the one used against Iraq both in DS and OIF. I suspect the window of opportunity for offensive action will be sometime in the spring to early summer. After that its too close to the primary season. I hope military action wont be necessary but Iran has shown no interest in aborting their nuclear program.